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Pittsburgh, PA – May 13, 2016 – The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) has named Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center in Middletown, CT, as the recipient of the 2016 Employer Recognition Award. Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center was selected for the award based on the hospital’s support and recognition of oncology nursing certification.

At Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, oncology nursing certification is emphasized from the very beginning of the hiring process. A preference, or requirement, for certified nurses is included in job postings. Non-certified nurses are expected to attain certification within two years, or as soon as the nurse is eligible to take the exam.

Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center financially supports certification. To illustrate, nurses are reimbursed for test review courses, study materials, online courses, examination fees, as well as renewal fees. Whether or not a nurse is certified is taken into consideration during performance evaluations.

For past Certified Nurses Day celebrations, certified nurses have received handwritten thank you notes from the senior administration, gift cards, and hand-crafted bracelets.

Newly-certified nurses are recognized in the hospital-wide newsletter, as well as on the Awards and Recognition page on the hospital website. Nurses are celebrated with either a cake or cupcakes upon becoming certified and are recognized at department staff meetings.

“I am always amazed by the encouragement of this hospital’s administration to continue nursing professional development… As nurses at the Cancer Center, our administration wants us to be the best we can be to provide exceptional care to our patients,” says Megin Iaccharino, BSN, RN, OCN®, CHPN, lung nurse navigator and certified oncology nurse at the hospital.

The award was presented during the ONCC Recognition Breakfast at the 41st Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress on April 29, 2016 in San Antonio.

The Employer Recognition Award is presented annually to an institution for providing sustained support of oncology nursing certification. To win the award, the institution must be nominated by an ONCC-certified nurse, with documentation describing the institution’s recognition, appreciation, encouragement, or advancement of oncology nursing certification.

Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center is the cancer care provider of choice for Middlesex Hospital. The Cancer Center focuses on excellence, compassion, coordination of care across the health system, and patient and family centered care. Middlesex Hospital is a Magnet hospital and also accredited by the Joint Commission.

The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote excellence in patient care and professional practice by validating specialized knowledge in oncology nursing and related specialties. ONCC administered the first Oncology Certified Nurse examination in 1986. Today, ONCC offers basic and advanced certification in adult oncology nursing, basic certification in pediatric oncology/hematology nursing, and specialty certification in breast care nursing and blood and marrow transplant nursing. Learn more about ONCC at www.oncc.org.